Following social conventions is a critical aspect necessary to be accepted by society. Graeme Simsion's Rosie Project demonstrates that acceptance in society is based on socially acceptable behaviors and lifestyles. The novel is about a 39-year-old professor named Don Tillman who is looking for a wife. Don is very intelligent, incredibly organized and extremely fit; however, social behavior eludes his understanding and has led him to live a solitary life. Although it is never explicitly stated, it can be inferred that Don has Asperger's syndrome. However, Rosie Jarman, a force of spontaneity and wild emotion, not only bursts into his life, but changes it completely. Through character development and plot, Simsion demonstrates the importance of social conventions in creating and maintaining relationships in young people's lives. Social conventions are the expected behaviors that dictate social interactions and are considered acceptable by the majority. On the other hand, deviant behavior will be considered strange and, as a result, people classified as strange are likely to be treated negatively or ignored. The theme of social conventions is displayed through character development. Despite his many excellent qualities, Don struggles with social conventions and, as a result, has few friends. It is this lack of understanding that leads him to have minimal social activity. This is demonstrated in the beginning and middle of the book through choice of clothing, inability to decipher subtle social hints, and blunt use of language. For example, Rosie comments on Don's choice of clothing as similar to that of a homeless person: "I won't walk around New York with a bum" (223). Later in the book,...... middle of the paper... the current one. I understand that it is important to behave a certain way towards a boss, colleagues or different groups of friends, but in this book it is clear that social conventions are very important in almost all relationships, except family. In fact, I think that family is excluded only because a person is who he is mainly due to his upbringing; essentially, they reflect the same characteristics and behaviors as their families. The book made me believe that social conventions can play an important role in how I or my partner behave in our relationship. Therefore, my opinion on social conventions has been strengthened, adding romantic relationships to the list of social groups in which I have to act in a certain way. Not only do social conventions encompass most relationships, but I now believe they also include romantic relationships that can lead to marriage.